Top 10 Ridiculous NBA 2K18 Ratings

With NBA 2K18 right around the corner, set for release on the 19th of September, more and more info has been released relating to the ratings of the top players in the NBA, including the top 10 players at each position.

As we all know though, 2K sports are far from perfect, and sometimes they can overrate or underrate players massively before the start of the season. For example, many fans were up in arms over Derrick Rose’s rating in 2K18 (a 78 overall), with the majority saying 2K had rated the 2011 MVP too low, considering the season he had for the Knicks in 2016.

Other than Rose, however, 2K Sports may have messed up on a few other players, rating some youngsters strangely high for their age and skillset, and underrating some solid vets who still provide valuable minutes on the court. Here are the top 10 players who 2K have severely underrated or overrated.

For a player who only played in 51 games last season, and is currently rehabbing a torn ACL, with reports he could return as early as the All-Star break next season, 81 does seem a tad ambitious. Jabari was rated a 78 heading into 2K17, and although he did raise his scoring from 14 to 20 points per contest, the amount of time he spent on the court last season doesn’t justify Parker being rated the 53rd best player in the league.

Back in 2K17, Nikola Jokic was rated a 79 overall after posting a 10 and 7 rookie season, good enough to make the All-Rookie First Team. In 2K18, Jokic will be rated an 88 overall, a massive 9 overall points difference between 2K17 and 2K18. Jokic posted averages of 16.7 points, 9.8 rebounds, and 4.9 assists a game last season, but to say that Jokic is only 3 overall points behind Karl-Anthony Towns, and is the 4th best center in the NBA after only his second season is absurd.

After Karl-Anthony Towns’ rookie campaign, where he ran away with Rookie of the Year honors, KAT only improved upon his debut year, posting stats of 25.1 points and 12.3 rebounds a game for the Timberwolves. Towns was rated an 88 overall heading into last season. To say he’s only improved slightly up to a 91 after increasing his scoring, both inside and out, and rebounding numbers is ridiculous.

It’d be fair to say that Wade’s first year with the Chicago Bulls was less than spectacular, as the Bulls fought for the 8th seed in the East, getting bounced out in the first round by the Boston Celtics.

Although he didn’t experience much team success, Wade’s averages remained almost the same to his last year in Miami, and in 2K17, Wade was rated a 87. How can 2K explain a 5-point dip in overall when Wade still produced on the court as much as he did while on the Heat?

Dwight Howard was once the best center in the NBA by far back in the late 2000’s. Although he may never return to that level, that doesn’t mean Howard has completely fallen off the shelf in terms of production. D12 is still a nightly double-double threat, posting averages of 13.5 points and 12.7 rebounds per contest last season with Atlanta.

He may not be averaging close to 3 blocks a game anymore, but he’s still serviceable on defense as well, so the 81 overall rating 2K gave Howard is head-scratching, to say the least.

Rose’s rating probably received the most flak when it was first released, even more so than number one on our list, and it rightly so.

Rose is coming off an 18 point and 4.4 assists per game season with the Knicks, his highest scoring output since before he sat out the entire 2012-13 season. If I were Rose, I’d be very insulted with the rating, and would definitely be using it as motivation next season with the Cavs.

1. Lonzo Ball – 80 Overall

I’m a Laker fan through and through, and I’m extremely happy that a rookie we drafted is receiving this much praise and attention before the season has even started, but the 2K player inside me absolutely hates this rating.

How can a rookie who hasn’t even played an NBA game against top-tier NBA talent be rated an 80 overall, among the top 15 or so point guards in the league?

The same sentiment is directed towards Markelle Fultz as well, who also holds an 80 overall rating in 2K18 without having played an NBA game, as well as getting injured in the Summer League.

I’d be very surprised if 2K don’t immeditely drop both of their ratings to the high 70’s once the season begins.

About the author

Brad Stevenson is Fadeaway World's Chief Content Editor. Brad is 19 years old and is currently studying Information Technology at Monash University in Australia. Joining the Fadeaway World team early on in 2016, Brad has covered every NBA topic imaginable in his two years with Fadeaway World. He's also a rabid Laker fan and isn't afraid to share his opinions when it comes to the Purple and Gold. You can follow Brad on Twitter @BradStevensonFW.